My Design Secrets

the lovely details of this this French Directoire style dresser from Wisteria are highlighted by the white wash.

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Do you remember a couple of years ago when dark woods were all the rage?  Whether they called it “Java” or “Wenge”, it seemed that they just could not make the finishes dark enough.  Well, just like fashion, politics and anything else we gossip about, when things swing to one extreme it seems inevitable that they’ll swing in the opposite direction sometime soon.  That’s why we are seeing worn and washed woods popping up all over the place.  Worn finishes have a nice earthy matte look that is soft to the touch and easy on the eyes.  A white wash can take that same piece and really brighten it up while highlighting the natural wood grain.  Because of this, a grainy wood like pine is the perfect candidate.

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The Simplicity Chandelier from Currey & Co. Need I say more?

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I like washed finishes for a number of reason, not the least of which is their time-worn look.  Furniture just has more character when it looks likes like it’s been around the block.  But the beauty of these weathered pieces is their ability to fit perfectly into so many designs such as:

• As a counterpoint to a room full of medium or dark toned antiques, it’s a great solution.
• If you are going for a light, beachy look with lots of white and painted finishes but crave some natural warmth, it also works.
• And if you love modern pieces but still want to inject a little history, they fit the bill there too.

So if you are stuck on when selecting that last piece for your living room, take a look at some of these well-worn pieces.  They are interesting, beautiful and instantly bring a little history into your space!
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A classic and comfortable x-back cafe chair. Perfect as an accent piece or an extra seat for an unexpected guest.

This cute little desk lamp is so charming that it was recently reproduced by a major lighting company, but the new ones don't capture the authentic character of the originals. $300

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Whether your taste is traditional or modern, you just can’t knock a good antique.  Most designs you see today take their cues from days past and lighting is no exception.  And that, my friends, is a big fat hint at the fantastic giveaway we have for you today!

Rejuvenation (my favorite source for classic lighting) has expanded its online antique lighting assortment with a collection of vintage industrial lights spanning the 1890s through the 1940s.  It’s called Antique Industrial.  They have also added a few new collections with antique style where you can customize ’till your heart’s content!  So let me tell you a little bit about them…

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The Ford's Mill makes an excellent bathroom or hallway light.

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Rejuvenation’s current offering consists of lights that originally illuminated movie theaters, garment factories, machine shops, schools, warehouses store display windows and New York City Subways. Minimal refinishing work has been done to these lights to maintain their rustic beauty and original patinas. When more extensive restoration was necessary, original period appropriate parts were used whenever possible.

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The McCoy is from around 1900 and you can customize it with blue, green & red shades as well as some metal options.

In addition to these wonderful originals, they have also added some classic fixtures where you get classic style and your choice of finishes, shades and light bulbs.  The Ford’s Mill makes an excellent bathroom or hallway light.  The Menlo, McCoy and Wiley are fantastic pendant lights for any space.  Think hallways, dining areas or kitchens. (That’s where I  have mine!)  So jump out of the box (or the Big Box Store) and select a unique light with lots of charm.  You will be amazed at how many people will notice. .

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This is how to enter:

Step 1:  Visit Rejuvenation and shop around.

Step 2:  Leave me a comment below telling me which item would be on the Top of Your Wish List and Why. If you are receiving this via email, go back to the site to enter.  Replies by email will not be accepted.

One entry per person.  You have until 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, July 7th to enter.  One random winner will be chosen and announced soon after.

Good Luck!

~Lorrie

Arteriors makes great affordable lamps with designer details. This one features a crackle finish and hemmed edge on the shade. Get a pair for the bedside. ($278)

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You need a new table lamp but have been putting it off for ages.  Why?  You have two other lamps in the room and simply don’t know how they’ll all work together. 

I have a tip for you:  Sometimes the best choice is white or clear glass lamp. 

They look crisp and clean and provide a wonderful contrast to stained and painted furniture.  Plus their light and bright look provides a breath of fresh air into darker rooms. You can find them in many styles from highly contemporary to totally traditional.  Look for interesting shapes and  finishes from crackle to textures.  Plus if you want to add a shot of color you can always change out the lamp shade!

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A great little lamp from Crate & Barrel. Love the textured diamond pattern. Makes a great accent lamp at 20" high. ($129)

If you are up for an investment piece, Tracey Glover makes gorgeous blown glass lamps. All the styles can be ordered in a variety of colors. The one shown here is the Veronese Lamp in White Lace. ($663)

Simple, Affordable & Flexible. At 30" high this clear glass lamp with brushed chrome accents works with any style. ($119)

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At first glance, a well-designed bedroom allows you to  just settle into the whole space.  The colors, the furniture and the tiny details all work togehter harmoniously.  Ahhhh, the cohesive loveliness!  But as a designer, my next step is to start breaking it all down… the bed, the pillows, the window treatments and lamp.  Why does it all work and how can I learn from this?  I want to help you develop the same critical eye because this is the difference between a so-so decorating job and a room that comes alive.

I designed the room above for two teenage girls about 10 years ago.  They liked feminine details but were growing up and did not want anything too cute.  They loved horses but did not want the whole room to go “horsey”.  It’s always a balancing act between “this” and “that.” So these are the steps I took to pull together this great little design without breaking the bank. 

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Color – We went with a warm peach because it was feminine, bright and fun.  It’s a more complex color than pink or purple which spoke to their sophisticated tastes (yes teenagers now have sophisticated taste!)

Beds – These iron beds are classic and budget-friendly.  The choice of many finishes allowed us to select one that tied in our coral, ivory and green palette.  (I don’t usually recommend iron beds for master bedrooms but for kids or guest rooms they do the job at a great price.)

Bedding- Custom bed-skirts and shams echo the colors with a designer look but we saved some money by using a matelasse coverlets.  These could easily be replace by down comforters and duvets when it gets cold.

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Some Ladder Tape options from Smith + Noble. Simple wood blinds step up the style with this designer touch.

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Windows - Simple 2″ wood blinds.  The big slats work with the scale of the large windows.  A color-coordinated ladder tape covers the strings that hold the blinds together (the ladder).  Now instead of plain old blinds that control light they ARE the window treatment.  Plus Ladder Tapes cover route holes so sunlight won’t poke through when blinds are closed.

Chair – We bought this wicker chair new but any old wicker chair can be painted for an instant face-lift.  You can also just wrap the fabric around the cushions and safety pin them on the back if you are a not a seamstress.

Lamps – Two simple and affordable lamps that could be found at a local home store.

Artwork – I love to use colorful and interesting artwork in kids rooms and posters are an easy answer. The pieces in this room are prints of famous horse paintings.  By going with more modern art, it gives the room a more updated feel and the white frames are simple and fresh.

I hope this helps you see, once again, that good design results is more than the sum of its parts.  Consider the look you want and then approach it one step at a time patiently and thoughtfully!

Let me know if I can help you with any design dilemmas by commenting below or contacting me here!

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Last week, our friend, Richard Sexton, at Carolina Rustica was nice enough to give us some tips for selecting a chandelier.  This week he’s giving one away!

Last year, Sheila Hickman was extremely happy when she wone a $440 Emerson Ceiling Fan.  This time, you can win the gorgeous Hawthorn Collection Chandelier shown above (Retail Value – $244.80).  I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Carolina Rustica is one of the most diverse vendors in My Secret Database.  And besides that, their one of my favorites too!  Keep reading! 

Carolina Rustica has one of the most extensive collections of chandeliers, sconces, and other fixtures available online. From the very highest-end lighting manufacturers like Fine Art Lamps, Currey & Company, and Hinkley Lighting to hand-forged lighting like Northeast Lanterns, Arroyo, and Hubbardton Forge, you can find something for every room, style and budget.  And right now… All Lighting and Ceiling Fans Ship Free!

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Look stylish and be good to the planet with this Energy Star wall sconce! Hubbardton Forge has created an iron and glass sconce that is striking in its simplicity, with flowing forged reeds originating on the lower left of the light fixture.

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Would you like to find a great deal on furniture, lighting, or home accents and save Big Money $$$?  Then you have to visit Carolina Rustica’s Clearance section.  This is a great opportunity to pick up brand-name lighting or furniture items at a huge percentage off list retail.  Look what I found below!

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This Liz Claiborne Arbor Hill Rectangular Cocktail Table is on clearance right now. Was $899.00 NOW $475.00

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Do YOU want to Win this Beautiful Hawthorn Collection Chandelier – $244.80?

This is how to enter:

Step 1:  Visit Carolina Rustica and shop around.

Step 2:  Leave me a comment below telling me which 2 products would be on the Top of Your Wish List and Why.  If you are receiving this via email, go back to the site to enter.  Replies by email will not be accepted. 

One entry per person.  You have until 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, April 14th to enter.  One random winner will be chosen and announced soon after.

Good Luck!

~Lorrie

P.S.   And remember, you can be the first to hear about Carolina Rustica’s new arrivals, exclusive promotions and decorating trends by signing up to receive their Newsletter Specials.  Just by signing up, you’ll receive $10 off your first purchase!

This Currey & Company chandelier has a hint of formality, but the washed wood would work well in beachy, casual interiors too.

Carolina Rustica is one of the many wonderful vendors I have included in My Secret Database.  They carry a fantastic selection of lighting and furniture and their customer service is top notch.  Today, Richard Sexton, the owner of Carolina Rustica, is here to offer some tips on selecting a suitable chandelier for your room!  And please keep your eyes peeled because next week Carolina Rustica is sponsoring a fantastic giveaway here at My Design Secrets!

Enjoy!  Lorrie

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 One frequent question we hear from our customers here at Carolina Rustica  is “What Size Chandelier Will Work For My Room?” Most homeowners are concerned that the size of their room is the only thing that determines the dimensions of a chandelier.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  

 There are many factors that determine the appropriate chandelier for a given room, but one of the most important is:  Do You Like the Chandelier?  After all, you are the one who is going to live with it! 

So, first it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what’s out there.  We offer chandeliers from 25 different vendors so we are sure there is something for everyone.  So browse through and see which companies catch your eye. 

 Here are some other factors to consider when choosing a chandelier:

Room Considerations

• Room Dimensions
• How high is the Ceiling?
• How much natural light is available?
• What is the décor of the room?  (heavy furniture, light contemporary, etc…)

Lifestyle Considerations

Lanterns look great in your foyer, kitchen, or just about anywhere!

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Some “Suggestions”

Next, it’s a good idea to figure out how large your chandelier should be.  There are, of course, many rules of thumb available to those homeowners who are more mathematically inclined.  Since we don’t like to be limited by design rules, we will call them suggestions:

Suggestion #1

In an 8’ x 10’ room, take the sum of the width and depth (18) and that is the approximate size in inches for the diameter of the chandelier.  So in this example, we would have an 18” diameter chandelier.

Suggestion #2 (For Dining Rooms)

Chandeliers should be hung about 30” above the surface of the dining room table.  This is a pretty good rule, but again, the height will really depend on the style of the chandelier.  If the 30” measures to the bottom of a crystal, hanging it a little lower may not make a difference.

Suggestion #3 (For Dining Rooms)

A very general suggestion for the dining room is to size the chandelier to about 75% of the width of the table.  Again, this will depend on the style, configuration, and number of lights on the chandelier.   Other designers suggest that the chandelier should be about 12″ narrower than the total width of the table.

 Carolina Rustica has thousands of chandeliers from some of the best-known names in the lighting, such as Currey and Company, Hubbardton Forge, and Hinkley Lighting.  

You can begin shopping for the perfectly sized Chandelier by clicking here!

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Win a Great Book Here!

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The seamed silk shade and the slight bell shape immediately make this lamp look a bit more formal and traditional.

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Lamps are the last item I look for when designing a room.  To me, they are the crowning touch and allow you to infuse a last bit of style and color into the room.   I was looking for lamps for a client today and the ones I am considering have two different lamp shade options.  Options…it’s a word every designer loves and so should you! When you take a classic lamp and put a pleated silk lampshade on it, the result has a more formal and traditional look.  But when you take the same lamp and use a plain drum or cone shade you have a much more modern look.  Check out these lamps to see the difference.  And by the way, a gourd lamp like this fits in most any room.  They come in a broad spectrum of sizes and colors and are always in style.

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The more modern choice. Still a silk shade but the shape is simple yet classic.

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This also means that if you find a lamp you like but the shade is not quite right, change out the shade.  There are a number of lamp stores that carry a broad selection of shades in many price ranges. The perfect lampshade can make a  simple lamp look more spendy and we all love a bargain, right?

Tired of shopping the same online stores that all carry the same products?  Become a member of My Secret Database and enjoy access to a wide variety of boutique vendors that I have gathered over the years!

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I started My Design Secrets more than a year ago with one goal in mind:  Help people who love home decorating by giving them professional advice and easy access to the best online interior decorating sources.  After receiving a lot of wonderful feedback and learning that close to 100,000 people visted the database last year, I realized that My Secret Database was the answer to many of your decorating prayers!  So, I  was determined to continue sharing my interior design advice and resources.

A couple of months ago, I announced that we would be making some upgrades to the website.  Now, the time has come!  We wanted to make My Design Secrets even more useful, interesting, and fun for all of you decorating enthusiasts. (And for those of you who don’t know, my husband, Tim,  is the what turns “me” into “we”.)

So, here is what’s in store…

Improvements to My Secret Database *

The new database is PHENOMENAL.  When it comes to home decorating, My Secret Database blows any search engine out of the water.  Take that Google!  Here’s why: 

• Search through hundreds of online retailers for the product(s) you need and in the specific style you want.
• View a wide assortment of photos of specific products from the vendors in My Secrets Database. 
• Check out the the handy $-$$-$$$!  These icons will help you stay within your home decorating budget.

*While we wanted to keep doing all this for free, a girl has got to make a living!   With all these great new features, we are confident that you will recognize what a great value it is.  So starting this Wednesday at noon, My Secret Database is going to become a membership only site.  We are sure you will agree that the nominal charge of $9.95 per month is a fair price for access to this incredibly valuable, time-saving database.

Hot New Topics and Inside Tips in the Blog (Free)

The blog will continue to be free of charge and will offer my professional design tips as well as introductions to some of the hottest new decorating sources on the web.  I have lots of great ideas for new topics and, as always, you are welcome to make suggestions.  Feel free to search my existing blog entries covering over 350 decorating topics!

Great New Giveaways

We know you all love a Great Giveaway, so those are definitely going to continue.  We have some great ones lined up for high quality paint, gorgeous home furnishings, and fabulous interior decorating/design books.  And remember, your paid membership will automatically enter you into the giveaways.

Thank You…Thank You…Thank You

I have appreciated your support over the last year and sincerely hope that you will find these upgrades very helpful as you continue to put your personal decorating stamp on your home.

~ Lorrie

For a simple home office, you cannot beat the price and functionality of the Trovato Office-In-A-Box from Office Max. A desk, hutch and storage ottoman for $149.99.

More and more of us are working from home.  Some people need to take work home from the office, others work from home full-time and still others are starting new businesses “on the side” just to earn a few extra dollars in these money-tight times.  And let’s not forget how organized you need to be to manage a household – baseball games, trips to the vet, and school plays!

While it would be great to have a whole room for your office, many times you need to carve out a little space in an already crowded home.  The key here is to create a small, but well-organized space so you can focus when it’s time to settle in and get down to business.   Here is a sure fire way to make it work!

The Right Desk Spells Success

Find a desk that works for you. Not for the kids, not for your spouse, for you!  This means it has the right amount of space to hold the things you need (computer, phone, printer, etc) but not so much that you are filling it with clutter.  The height is very important because you want to be comfortable when using your keyboard.  If the desk does not have a keyboard tray then you will have to make sure your chair is adjustable so your shoulders are not scrunched up by your ears!

Steelcase has been making commercial office chairs for years. Now you can have an eco-friendly one that conforms to your body. It's a win-win. $659 at Crate & Barrel

“Chair” Man or Woman

Don’t buy a CHEAP CHAIR!  Your back, your neck and your butt will thank you.  The best chair allows you to adjust your seat up and down, and tilt forward and and back.  It should have lumbar support and allow you to adjust the arm rests.  Even people of the same height can be built so much differently with shorter arms or longer legs.  A good chair will last you for years.  Mine has gone 10 years so far and every vertebrae in my back is thankful.

This flexible gooseneck lamp from LampsPlus will twist and turn in any direction. LED lights keep it burning cool and saves energy. $99.99

Let There be Light

It’s great if your room already has overhead light but you still need some task lighting to make the space work.  If you are doing detailed worked, halogen lamps are great because the light is bright and clear.  But make sure the shade is not metal or it will get super hot.  Another great option is a light that uses LED bulbs that burn cool and last a super long time.  Table lamps look good but they really don’t give you the focused light that your eyes truly need. 

Metal mesh on the outside and cork on the inside allows you to use push pins or magnets. Pick your poison. $37.99

Organize It

Your organizational needs will vary greatly depending on your line of business but there a few basics that can help everyone!  Make sure you have enough filing space.  That sleek and simple writing desk may just have to wait if you have files you need at your fingertips.  There are lots of great looking desks with ample storage.  Also, some kind of  bulletin or magnet board is a huge help.  It can prevent you from getting lost in a flutter of Post-It notes.

These are just some basic tips to get you started with your furnishings.  If you feel you could use the help of a professional home office organization expert, then my friend Brandie is your woman!  She has contributed to My Design Secrets in the past and offers consultations to get you going in the right direction!

Please share your personal home office tips and tricks below!

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If you are going to remodel your kitchen and would like to do it in an eco-friendly fashion, consider using the following materials in your new design.

Appliances- Certified with an Energy Star label.  Use a convection oven versus a conventional oven to save energy. 

Cabinets – FSC-certified plywood, wheatboard, bamboo, formaldehyde-free MDF, reclaimed wood, recycled timber, or recycled steel.

Countertops – Granite, engineered stone, recycled ceramic tile, FSC-certified wood, recycled steel, recycled glass, recycled plastics.

Flooring –  Bamboo, cork, linoleum, stone tiles, recycled glass tiles, recycled metal tiles, reclaimed & sustainable woods.

Lighting – Copper light fixtures, recycled glass, recycled aluminum, recycled steel, sustainably harvested wood, and post-industrial waste products.  Be sure and use energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.

Storage – Store food in glass and ceramic pieces instead of plastic.  They are easier to clean, do not hold odors, and if on display, aesthetically much more pleasing.

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Are you following me on twitter?  You should be!

~ Lorrie